Ducati 750 SS criminally underrated as a candidate for customization. Certainly, the oft-overlooked Supersport is unlikely to win any beauty contests, and its 748cc L-twin engine only produces a meager 64 horsepower. But it also weighs about 183 kg [403 pounds]comes with good suspension and Brembo brakes, and there’s a proper Italian trellis frame hiding underneath a sturdy fairing.
It was Ducati’s iconic trellis frame that attracted Chiel Nipius to the 750 SS in the first place—that, and the fact that his friend sold one for a reasonable sum.
Based in the Netherlands, Chiel is the creative force behind custom shop Nius Moto, which launched just two years ago. Now in his mid-20s, Chiel started working at Arjan van den Boom’s Ironwood Custom Motorcycles shop. He’s been flying solo since he left—and so far, he’s impressed at every turn.
The idea behind this particular project was to showcase Chiel’s skills and have something to bring to custom car shows, before selling it and moving on to further builds. “I wanted to create a naked race bike with a bit of a twist Street Fighter spirit,” he told us. “I bought the Ducati because I wanted to create something that felt more modern than the Ducati.” Classic Honda I have done it.”
Chiel added that the donor’s 2002 model bike was in pretty good condition but that didn’t stop him from ditching almost all of its plastic bodywork. The deeply contoured 750 SS tank managed to survive the cull, but it was freed from its rubber belly gasket.
With no customers supporting the project, Chiel also had to carefully consider the budget. Therefore, expensive items such as Ducati wheels, Brembo brake calipers, Marzocchi forks and Sachs shock absorbers were all dismantled, refurbished and refinished. There’s new paint on the brake calipers and a dark anthracite powder coat finish on the wheels and rear shock.
Chiel also upgraded the brakes with new pads and hoses, and wrapped the wheels with Pirelli Diablo Corsa tires. Likewise, the engine has been given a fresh coat of paint but there are no major upgrades inside. Chiel simply removed the airbox and installed a pair of foam filters.
The idea here, he told us, is to focus on manufacturing instead of “crazy new parts.” And nowhere is that approach more evident than on the 750’s extremely elegant exhaust system. Circularly cut stainless steel headers circle the engine, before crossing each other and exiting through a Pair of high-mounted aftermarket mufflers.
Those cans sit next to a custom subframe, whose tight trellis pattern complements the Ducati’s main frame nicely. Essentially skeletal, it includes an integrated seat mount that suspends the seat behind the tank. “The stance is quite radical,” Chiel admits, “but it’s definitely rideable.”
Due to the lack of any fairing parts and the exposed tail design, Chiel left a lot of exposed wires on hand. So he repackaged the wiring, then built a series of steel covers to hide everything. Painted black, they are located just below the fuel tank and below the seat.
The rear trunk also features a Highsider LED taillight, while a custom license plate frame extending from below the seat houses Motogadget turn signals and Koso license plate lights. A hand-made rear wheel hugging bracket is located in the lower position, bolted directly to the swingarm.
At the opposite end of the Supersport, Chiel crafted a bracket that bolts to both yokes, designed to hold the handcrafted front cover, Highsider LED lights, and Motogadget turn signals. It’s also a neat way to keep the front cables tidy. Behind it is a Daytona dashboard, with Barracuda grips adorning the OEM grips.
A neat aluminum front fender adds the final handcrafted touch, secured with a custom bracket. “I also want to make a new aluminum fuel tank but I’m not ready yet,” Chiel said. That will come in future projects.”
Chiel’s Ducati 750 SS racing cafe The car is finished in a simple yet impactful colour palette. The grey bodywork is taken from the Porsche catalogue, while the frame is powder-coated with a bronze-coloured metal flake effect. Neat upholstery with automotive-inspired stitching covers the seats.
A little slim and a little wild, this Supersport is a testament to Chiel’s imagination—and his scooters. Now someone should buy it so he can be successful in his next shot.
Nius Moto’s Instagram | Image by Paul van Mondfrans Lindén
